Rocket construction



26, 94-6. R ANZALONE 2,397,114

ROCKET CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 2l, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Ra /aAnaZa/'ze BY ATT RNEY ,l W wm. s. c@ W w .O mm wh T ww mw .Nn H mm. NN Bx Q f mh SO A+, LY mm. alniil Nm M & HI QN wm .O WMU Mm m m .1| QN M. nu WN WW1 .uw

March 26, 1946. R. ANzALoNE ROCKET CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 2l, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .SN @N lil @Mw lNVENTOR 1Mo/'f BY ATTOR EY ROCKET CONSTRUCTION Ralph Anzalone, Oceanside, N. Y., assignor to l Aerial Products, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application January 21, 1941, Serial No. 375,136

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to rocket constructions, particularly those designed for carrying parachute flare bombs and life-lines to substantial elevations before release thereof.

Considerable difliculty has been experienced in manufacturing projectiles which may be shot from a gun with a relatively low powder charge or even from a ring arm held by a man, with assurance at the same time that such projectile would be elevated to a substantially great distance and with satisfactory `accuracy so as to warrant its utilization in signalling, warfare and other purposes.

For example, it is often desirable to project to elevations of 1,000 to 3,000 feet flares, lifelines, grenades and other similar devices. However, if a suflicient charge is placed to elevate the projectile its entire distance, such propelling charge, considering the weight of the projectile, is too great to enable the shell to be handled in a pistol carried by a man or in a relatively small inexpensive firing arm.

It is therefore among the objects of the present invention to provide an improved projectile of the character above described, which may be broadly utilized with low power propelling charges permitting it to be fired :from a ring piece carried by a man, or from a relatively simple low weight firing piece and which at the same time will permit the projectile to be elevated to substantial heights or to be shot to substantial distances with reasonable accuracy, which projectile may be manufactured at low cost and which will be utilized in many widely varying types of firing pieces and may be kept without deterioration.

Still further objects and advantages will appear in the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood however that this more detailed description is given by way of illustration and explanation only, and not by way of limitation, since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In accomplishing the above objects, it has been found most satisfactory according to one embodiment of the present invention to provide a rocket device with which is associated a relatively simple propelling charge sufficient to propel the rocket device to a small height whereupon the rocket charge will be ignited and cause elevation and/or projection of the shell to a great height or a great distance, as the case may be, at which height or distance a further charge may be set 01T to cause release of a flare, a life-line, a grenade or some other similar device.

It has been found necessary to control the motion of such a rocket device and it is among the other 'objects of the present invention to provide an improved rocket control which will have means assuring its proper aiming and directional move ment after projection either as a projectile under the initial propelling charge, or as a projectile being elevated or moved under the rocket charge.

In accomplishing this last mentioned object, it has been found most suitable to provide on the rocket, a series of external or internal vanes which will control the directional movement and prevent the rocket from deviating from its said course or from turning over end on end.

These vanes may be positioned exteriorly of the rocket shells so as to be inserted outside of the gun or ring piece while the shell is placed inside the iiring piece.

Preferably they may be collapsed and/or telescoped with the rocket body inside of the shell as inserted in the barrel of the gun, with effective means to release the vanes or guiding Wings upon the release or projection of the shell from the barrel of the gun upon the initial propelling charge.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate several of the various possible embodiments of the present invention, but to which the present invention is by no means restricted, since the drawings are merely by way of illustration and not by way of limitation,

Fig. 1 is a transverse longitudinal sectional view of one form of shell according to the present invention, which shows the initial propelling charge chamber and the collapsed guiding vane construction being shown in partial sectional view;

Fig. 2 is a transverse longitudinal sectional View of the projectile of Fig. l, showing this projectile as applied to a parachute flare with the guiding wings released or untelescoped from the rocket body which is the position of the shell during elevation;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View upon a line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view upon line 4--4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a side view partly in section, of a ring arm showing how the shell of Fig. 1 may be positioned or located therein;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing the rocket device as applied to a grenade;

Figs. 7 to 10 illustrate still another alternative shell projectile construction for parachute are, but with the guiding vanes positioned externally of the gun barrel; Fig. 7 being a longitudinal sectiona1 View of the propelling charge container; Fig. 8 being a longitudinal sectional View of the rocket construction with the vanes, rocket charge,` flare and parachute being shown in section; Fig. 9 being an end View upon the line 9 9 of Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 being a longitudinal side elevational view of the rocket construction.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, the projectile has a propelling charge device A, a rocket charge container B, a parachute and nare release charge C, a parachute D with attached nare E, and a guiding vane construction F.

The propelling charge container A has a base I with a groove II to receive a suitable retainer or holder member to hold the casing I0 in position in the gun, which is shown diagrammatically at I2 in Fig. 5.

The gun as shown in Fig. has a barrel I3 which receives the shell body I4, extending upwardly from the base I0. The hand piece I5 is for holding the pistol-like ring arm I 2, which is provided with a hammer I6, suitable sights at I1 and with a latch device at I8 mounted by the pins |9 to hold the base I8 of the shell A in position.

The trigger 20 will actuate the hammer I6 to explode the propelling charge held in the casing on base I0 of the shell as shown in Fig. 1.

The propelling charge 2|, which is covered by the disc member 22, is held in the small chamber 23 and will be set oi when the hammer I6 projects the firing pin to strike the detonator 24.

Positioned within the shell I4 is the disc 25, positioned directly against the disc 22, the interior chamber within the -cylindrical extension I4 being much larger than the propelling charge carrying chamber 23.

The disc 25 is provided with a central opening 26 and against this disc 25 may be positioned the base ring 21 of the telescoping vane construction F. The base ring 21 carries the ends of the pivot rods 28 upon which are mounted the curled inner ends 29 of the guiding vanes or wings 30.

These guiding vanes or wings 30 are of semicircular contour and are approximately of the same curvature as the ring 21.

Four of these wings are utilized as shown in Fig. 3, but it is obvious that a larger or smaller number of wings may also be employed. The middle portion of each wing is cut away, as indicated at 3|. Coiled about each rod 28 in the cut away portion is a spring 32 which is xed to the rod at one end 33 and has an outstanding portion 34 which tends to bias the corresponding wing in the direction indicated by the arrows A35 in Figs. 3 and 4.

The movement of the wings 3i released as indicated in Fig. 4 is limited by the shoulders 36 on the sleeve 31 which carry the other ends of the pivot rods 28. These shoulders 36 being formed by providing oblique cuts 38 in the edge of the sleeve 31. The ends of the Wings 30, as indicated at A39 are also cut at an angle to be closely adjacent to said oblique cuts 38 when the wings are collapsed.

It will also be noted that the corners of the wings are rounded, as indicated at 40 and 4I, so that they may be more conveniently collapsed and will have an improved guiding eiect when the projectile is moving through the air.

The Wings F, together with the rods 28, the springs 32 and the rings 25 and 31 are preferably made of a rust-proof metal, although if they are to be promptly used, they may be also made of a metal which may rust if insufficient time be vgiven for deterioration before firing of the projectile.

Among the metals of which the guiding structure may be made are aluminum or aluminum and copper or aluminum and beryllium alloys or even brass or stainless steel.

The body 42 of the rocket may be made of paper and preferably of a heavy laminated paper, and the sleeve 31 may slide upon said cylinder 42. The shell 31 is held on said cylinder 42 and prevented from slipping therefrom by the cross pin 43.

The pin 43 also will limit the movement of the sleeve 31 onto the shell 42 in the direction 44 when the ring 21 strikes the pin 43. The shel1 42 contains the rocket charge `45 which will propel the projectile to the desired height or distance of between 1,000 and 3,000 feet.

The charge 45 has a central opening 46 receiving the fuse 41 which projects through the hole 48 in the end plug 49. The projecting portion 50 of the fuse 41 will be ignited through the opening 26 in the plug 25 by the propelling charge 2| when the trigger 20 is actuated to cause the hammer I6 to set off the detonator 24.

The frictional contact of the Wings 0r .vanes 30 against the interior walls of the cylindrical member I4 will cause the vane structure F to be untelescoped or moved in the direction 5I from the position in Fig. 1 to the position of Fig. 2 or from the position of Fig. 3 to the position of Fig. 4 with the vanes or Wings 30 being released and controlling the direction of flight in the manner indicated best in Figs. 2 and 4.

The upper end of the cylinder member 42 is provided with a plug 52 having a central opening 53. The farther end of the cylinder 42 is held by the pins 54 to the sleeve member 55 which has a projecting cylindrical container element 56 for receiving the flare E' and the `parachute D. The outer end of the shell 56 is closed by the nose 51 having a rounded tip 58 and a reduced diameter base portion 60 to t Within'the end 6I of the cylinder 56.

v`In the upper portion of the cylindrical member 42 on the other side of the holed plug 52 is a chamber 62 for receiving the flare and parachute releasing charge 63, which charge is held in position by the plug 64.

It will be noted that the charge 63 as well as the plug 64 are provided with central openings 65 and 66, constituting continuation of the opening 53 so that the rocket charge will ignite the are E before release of the flare and parachute combination D and E. The parachute D may be of any suitable construction and it forms no part of the present invention. The parachute D is separated from the are E by the plug 61 through which extends the connecting cord 68 attached at 69 to the flare body E.

In operation, the shell is first put into the barrel I3 of the gun I5, and the groove II will be engaged by the latch I8. When the trigger 20 is actuated it will release the hammer I6, which through a ring pin (not shown), will set off the detonator 24 which, in turn. will re the propelling charge 2I.

This propelling charge will eject the rocket B with the guide structure F thereon, together with the flare and parachute combination D and E from the barrel, the shell body |4 remaining in the gun. The friction of the wings 30 against the interior of the wall I4 will cause untelescoping of the guide structure F and its relative movement in the longitudinal direction of 5| toward the trailing end of the rocket B, so that as the device emerges from the gun it will assume the position as shown in Fig. 2.

The propelling charge 2| will be suicient to elevate the shell a distance of, say, 25 to 50 feet.

Then the rocket charge 45 will be ignited by the fuse 50 and elevate the projectile anywhere from 1,000 to 3,000 feet, as may be desired, with the extended vanes 30 controlling the direction.

When the projectile reaches a predetermined distance or height, the rocket charge 45 then will have substantially burned out and will ignite the release charge 63 which by pressure upon YYplug |54V expels the are E and the parachute D from the cylindrical container 56.

It is thus apparent that the present applicant has provided a simple, inexpensive method of elevating projectiles to a substantial distance with assurance of accuracy in the direction of projection under control of the Vanes or wings 30 which will prevent the shell from turning over end on end.

The telescoping of the guiding structure F upon the rocket construction B will give a most compact construction and by varying the propelling charge 2|, as well as the rocket charge 45, the initial distance of propulsion as well as the distance of movement under the rocket charge, may be widely controlled and varied.

The character of device which is elevated by the rocket may be widely varied, and in Fig. 6 there is shown a device in which the rocket and are combination D and E is replaced by a grenade or explosive charge G.

The guide structure F and the rocket structure B are the same as in Figs. 1 and 2, but the plug 15 as shown in Fig. 6 is imperforate, although itis held in position by the same pins 54.

The sleeve 55 now constitutes the continuation of a grenade body 1S having the transverse ridges 11 and the longitudinal ridges 18 charged with explosive 80 to permit bursting of the shell 16 along certain predetermined lines.

A nose 8| having a reduced threaded end 85 is threaded into the outer end of body 16 which is tapped at 86. The nose 8| is equipped with a retractible contact head 83, firing pin 84 and detonating cap 82 which serve, in the wellknown manner, to detonate the grenade upon forcible contact of the head 83 with an objective.

If desired, other devices than the grenade G and llare and parachute combination D and E may also be placed in the projectile.

In the embodiment of Figs. '7 to 10, the propelling charge 90 may be held within the shell body 9| having a base 92 carrying the detonating element 93.

The projecting ridge 94 causes the device of Figs. 7 to 9 to be breech-loading instead of barrel-loading, as shown in connection with the device of Figs. 1 to 4.

The exploding charge 90 is kept in position in the shell body 9| by the plug 95 having the shoulder 96, and the projecting nose 91. The central rocket igniting opening 98 projects through said nose 91.

The nose 91 is designed to be tted into the recess in the plug |0| fitted into end |02 of the cylindrical casing |03 for the rocket charge |04. The rocket charge is provided with a central opening |05, receiving the fuse |08 which projects at |01 into said opening |00. A frangible protective covering which may be thin paper |08, covers the end of the rocket |04.

In the construction shown in Figs. '1 and 8, the explosive charge may be placed in the breech of the gun, whereas the rocket shell |03 may be inserted through the barrel of the gun and the nose 91 will rip through the protective covering |08 and upon explosion of the charge 90 will propel the rocket |03 outwardly and at the same time ignite the fuse |06 at |01.

On the body of the rocket |03 is the ring cr sleeve |09, consisting of a piece of metal overlapped at |0 (see particularly Fig. 9).

To the ring |09 are connected by the flanges l2 the outstanding wing members 3, four being shown, although a greater or lesser number ,Y ,Y ,Y ,Y

may be utilized.

These wing members H3 have outer ilange portions l I4 connected to the reenforcing or supporting outer ring I8. To the rear of their attachment to the sliding ring |09, the wings |I3 are recessed as indicated at ||4, with the inwardly projecting portion being turned backwardly as indicated at ||5. 'I'he ends of the Wings 3 are obliquely cut off as indicated at I8.

When the shell is inserted in the barrel of the gun, the guiding wing structure ||3 will normally be moved in the longitudinal direction l I9 toward the trailing end of the rocket shell |03 to the position as shown in Fig. 8.

However, when the propelling charge 90 shoots the projectile from the barrel of the gun, the ring |09, together with the wings ||3, will move in the direction |20 relative to the shell |03 until said ring |09 is stopped by the ridge |2| adjacent the end of the rocket body.

'Ihe end of the rocket body is closed by the plug |2|a, the release charge |23 and the expelling plug |24 for the flare |25 and the parachute |26 connected by the cord |21.

The plug |28 separates the flare |25 and the parachute |26 in the outer portion |29 of the shell |03.

'I'he end of the shell is closed by the nose |30.

The projectile of Figs. '7 to 10, operates in substantially the same manner as the device of Figs. 1 to 4, except that the Wings or guiding vanes ||3 are exteriorly positioned and are not collapsed or telescoped within the body of the shell |03.

Many other changes could be effected in the particular features of rocket constructions disclosed, and in specific details thereof, without substantially departing from the invention intended to be dened in the claims, the specific description herein merely serving to illustrate certain elements by which, in one embodiment, the spirit of the invention may be eiectuated.

What is claimed is:

1. A rocket device comprising a cartridge-like casing adapted to be inserted into the barrel of a launching pistol and to be retained therein after discharge of its contents, a minor launching charge within said casing, a projectile supported in said casing, a major charge of rocket-propulsion material within said projectile, means to ignite the latter upon the ring of said launching charge by said pistol, a member slidably carried on said projectile upon a, portion thereof extending within said casing, a second member,

' longitudinally extending members joining said first and second named members, guiding vanes pivotally supported from said longitudinally extending members, each said vane being adapted in a first or collapsed position to lie against said portion of said projectile within said casing, and in a second or open position to extend from said projectile in a substantially radial direction, spring means for urging each said vane into its said open position, abutment means to limit said open position of said vanes, said vanes being retained against the tension of said spring means in their said collapsed condition by said cartridge casing and in frictional contact with the latter by said spring means, and being moved longitudinally of said projectile toward the trailing end of the latter upon its discharge from said casing by their said irictional contact with said casing, and then being moved automatically by said spring means into their said open position upon leaving said casing to guide theW llight of said projectile, and means1 lor limiting said longitudinal displacement of said vanes.

2. A rocket device comprising a cartridge-like casing adapted to be inserted into the barrel of a launching pistol and to be retained therein after discharge of its contents, said casing containing a minor launching charge of explosive therein, a projectile supported in said casing beyond said minor charge and having a major charge of rocket-propulsion powder therein adapted to be ignited upon discharge of said projectile from said pistol, a ring-like member slidably carried on said projectile on a portion thereof within said casing, a second member, rodlike members joining said ring-like and said second member, a guiding vane pivotally supported on each said rod-like member, each said vane being adapted in a collapsed position to lie against said portion of said projectile within said casing, and in an open position to extend from said projectile in a substantiallyv radial direction, spring means for urging each said vane into its said open position, abutment means in conjunction with said ring-like member to limit said open position of each said vane, said vanes being retained against the tension of said spring means in their said collapsed position within said cartridge casing by the latter, and being moved longitudinally of said projectile upon discharge of the latter from said casing by their frictional contact with said casing, and being moved automatically by said spring means into their said open position upon leaving said casing to guide the flight of the projectile, and means for limiting the said longitudinal displacement of said vanes,

3. A device of the character described, comprising a unitary cartridge-like casing adapted to be inserted into the barrel of a launching pistol and to be retained therein after discharge of its contents, said casing having an externally exposed percussion cap at the butt end thereof and containing a minor launching charge of explosive therein immediately adjacent said percussion cap, a projectile including two alignedcontainers connected together and supported in said casing beyond said minor charge, the nrst of said containers having a major charge of rocket-propulsion powder therein adapted to be ignited upon discharge of said projectile from said pistol, and the second of said containers having an additional chage therein, a ring-like member slidably carried on the rst of said containers, a second member, rod-like members joining said ring-like and said second members, a guiding vane pivotally supported on each said rod-like member, each said vane being adapted in a collapsed position to lie against a wall of said first container and in an open position to extend from said Wall in a radial direction, spring means for urging each said vane into its Said open position, abutment means in conjunction with said ring-like member to limit the open position of each said vane, said vanes being retained in their collapsed condition within said cartridge-like casing by it and in frictional contact with the latter by said spring means, and being moved longitudinally of said rst of said containers by said frictional contact and automatically by said spring means to their open position upon discharge of said projectile from said cartridge-like casing to guide its flight, and stop means for limiting said longitudinal displacement of said ring-like member on said first container.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a unitary cartridge-like casing adapted to be inserted into the barrel of a launching pistol and to be retained therein after discharge of its contents, said casing having an externally exposed percussion cap and containing a minor` launching charge of explosive therein immediately adjacent said percussion cap, a projectile rSupported in said casing beyond said minor chargeand havving a rocket-propulsion charge therein adapted tobe ignited upon discharge of said projectile from said pistol, a ring-like member carried on said projectile and slidable longitudinally thereof, a second member, rod-like members joining said ring-like member and said second member, a guiding vane pivotally supported on each said rod-like member, each said vane extending longitudinally of said projectile and being adapted in a collapsed position to lie against said projectile within said cartridge-like casing, and in an open position to extend from said projectile in a radial direction, spring means for urging each said vane into its said open position, abutment means in conjunction with said ring-like member to limit the open position of each said Vane, said vanes being retained in their collapsed position by said cartridge-like casing and in frictional contact therewith by said spring means, and being moved longitudinally of said projectile by said frictional contact and automatically by said spring means to their said open position upon discharge of said projectile from said casing to guide the ilight of said projectile, and stop means for limiting the longitudinal displacement of said ring-like member.

5. A device of the character described, comprising a unitary, cartridge-like casing adapted to be inserted into the barrel of a launching pistol and to be retained therein after discharge of its contents, said casing having an externally exposed percussion cap, and containing a minor launching chage of explosive therein immediately adjacent said percussion cap, a projectile including two aligned containers connected together and supported in said casing beyond said minor charge, the rst of said containers having a major charge of rocket-propulsion powder therein adaptedl to be ignited upon discharge of said projectile from said pistol and the second of said containers having a weakened wall for promoting fragmentation thereof upon explosion of its contents, a charge of high explosive with said latter container, means for detonating said latter charge, a ring-like member slidably carried on the first of said containers, a second member, rodlike members joining said ring-like member and said second member, a guiding vane pivotally supported on each said rod-like member, each said vane extending longitudinally of said first container and being adapted in a collapsed position to lie against said first container within said cartrdge-like casing, and in an open position to extend from said rst container in a radial direction, spring means for urging each said vane into its said open position, abutment means in conjunction With said ring-like member to limit the open position of each said vane, said vanes being retained in their collapsed position by said cartridge-like casing and in frictional contact therewith by said spring means, and being moved longitudinally of the iirst of said containers by said frictional contact and automatically by said spring -means into their said open position upon discharge of said projectile from said casing to guide the flight of said projectile, and stop means for limiting the longitudinal displacement of said ring-like member.

6. A rocket device comprising a unitary cartridge-like casing adapted to be inserted in the barrel of a launching pistol and to be retained therein after discharge of its contents, said casing having an externally exposed percussion cap at the butt end thereof and containing a minor launching charge of explosive packed therein immediately adjacent said percussion cap, a projectile including two aligned containers connected together and supported in said casing beyond said minor charge, the first of said containers having a major charge of rocket powder packed therein and said latter charge having a fuse recess formed therein adjacent the rear thereof, a fuse disposed in said recess and directly exposed at one of its rear ends to a flame propagated by said minor explosive charge, a supplemental launching explosive charge disposed in the second container adjacent the rear thereof and in proximity to the rocket charge in the other container, a flare candle disposed in the second container, the rear end of said candle being exposed to a name generated by the nearest adjacent portion of the rocket powder in the first container and said supplemental launching explosive charge, a folded parachute, having its shrouds connected to said candle mounted in said second container adjacent the front end thereof and a separable closure plug forming the nose of said second container and serving to temporarily position therein the aforesaid contents thereof.

7. A rocket device as claimed in claim 6 having a series of collapsible guiding vanes slidably mounted on the rst container and means for preventing the rearward escape of said vanes from said container during flight.

RALPH ANZALONE. 

